CHMENT
CONFIDENTI AL
WE REGARD THIS MORNING'S DISCUSSION AS A CLEAR INDICATION
THAT THE COMMISSION ARE ALL SET TO PROPOSE A PROTOCOL (JOINTLY WITH THE US) WITH OR WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF MENDER STATES,
AS THEY DID IN JULY. THIS TIME HOWEVER THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO INTERNAL CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT TEXTS. THE
ELEMENTS DESCRIBED IN PARA 2 ABOVE WOULD, IN OUR VIEW, SERIOUSLY
PREJUDICE THE COUNCIL'S DISCUSSION ON 27 DECEMDER. WE SEE
CONSIDERAILE DANGER IN THE OPENING, WITH COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP OF SUCH A PROTOCOL (THERE IS NO QUESTION SO FAR OF THE COMMISSION
SIGNING IT DEFORE THE COUNCIL)
(1) BEFORE UK MINISTERS HAVE TAKEN A COLLECTIVE DECISION ABOUT
THE RESULTS OF THE DILATERALS,
(2) BEFORE ANY EXPORTING COUNTRY HAS INITIALLED THE TEXT OF A BILATERAL AGREEMENT (AND ACCEPTED THE PRINCIPLE OF THE TRIGGERS), A.D (3) BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY THIS LEAVES ABOUT MEASURES AGAINST
NON-BILATERAL COUNTRIES.
AT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE 113 COMMITTEE (PROVISIONALLY ARRANGED
FOR 3.03 AM ON FRIDAY) WE PROPOSE THEREFORE TO RESERVE OUR POSITION. WE WOULD EXPECT SIMILAR RESERVES AT LEAST FROM THE
FRENCH AND THE DUTCH. THE COMMISSION WILL NO DOUBT QUOTE TAKE
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNQUOTE ANYWAY, BUT A UK RESERVE WOULD
AVOID PREJUDICING OUR POSITION IN THE COUNCIL.
7. IT SEEMS LIKELY TO US THAT DAVIGNON WILL PREFER NOT TO
OPEN UP ANY DISCUSSION OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN GENEVA. SEEN FROM
HERE THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN SMOKING THE COMMISSION OUT, IF ONLY TO VENTILATE, AT A HIGHER LEVEL IN BRUSSELS, THE CONCERNS
OF DELEGATIONS IN GENEVA.
FCO PLEASE ADVANCE TC:
FCO- BUTLER, JENKINS, STERN
DOI- RIDLEY, HUDSON, MISS LOWNE, FARRY
DOT
འ
GRAY, ABRAMSON, HELLINES, MISS MACFARLENE
CAD- FRANKLIN, HAINS
DR- BUIST, BAXTER
TOY- MICHELLV
DATTONLEY
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